William G. McGowan Forum to focus on “the Debate Over Internet Governance”

More Information

Washington, DC…On Wednesday, October 3 at
7 PM, the National Archives
will host the third annual William G. McGowan Forum on Communications, Technology,
and Government. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein will introduce
the program and Tom Wheeler, President of the Foundation for the National Archives
will moderate “the debate over Internet governance” with Internet
founding fathers Vinton G. Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist for Google, and
Robert E. Kahn, chairman and CEO of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives. The
program will take place in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives
Building in Washington, DC, located on the National Mall at Constitution Ave.
and 7th Street, NW. This program is presented in partnership with
the Greater Washington Chapter of the Internet Society.

Join Internet visionaries Cerf and Kahn for a discussion of key questions
on the future direction of the Internet: Who should and who will control
the Internet? Who will decide our Internet freedoms? Does Internet
governance concern you? More than a dozen intergovernmental organizations
are deciding rules for the networked world, focusing on issues such as taxation,
electronic ID, domain names, digital copyright, security, privacy, cybercrime,
e-contracting, dispute resolution, consumer protection, foreign commercial
relations, and free speech.

“The William G. McGowan Charitable Fund is delighted to provide the
platform for this wonderful program,” said the Fund’s Executive
Director, Diana Spencer. “Internet governance is as relevant and
essential today, as the deregulation of the telephone industry was during Mr.
McGowan’s tenure as Founder and CEO of MCI Communications. This
dialogue should be of central interest to all.”

The National Archives is fully accessible. If you need to request an accommodation
(e.g., sign language interpreter) for a public program please e-mail public.program@nara.gov or
call 202-357-5000 two weeks prior to the event to ensure proper arrangements
are secured.

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For Press information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs
staff at 202-357-5300.